The Jamaica Inn, Bodmin, Cornwall – part of The Coaching Inn Group

Hotel Description

Honestly, when you first pull up to The Jamaica Inn, you might wonder if your GPS has led you astray – this isn’t some tropical resort despite the name, but rather a legendary 12th-century coaching inn sitting right on Bodmin Moor in what feels like the middle of absolutely nowhere. And that’s exactly what makes it brilliant.

The thing is, this place has serious literary street cred. Daphne du Maurier basically made it famous with her novel “Jamaica Inn,” and you can actually feel that moody, windswept atmosphere she wrote about the moment you step inside. The building itself is this beautiful old stone structure that’s been welcoming travelers for centuries, though thankfully they’ve updated things like the heating and WiFi since then. What I love is how they’ve managed to keep all the character – low beamed ceilings, creaky floorboards, and those thick walls that make you feel properly cocooned – while still delivering proper four-star comfort. The rooms are surprisingly spacious considering the age of the building, and honestly, the beds are fantastic after a day tramping around the moor.

Location-wise, you’re basically in the heart of Cornwall’s wild country here in Bolventor. It’s about twenty minutes from Launceston if you need proper shops, but that’s sort of missing the point. This is where you come to disconnect a bit – though the restaurant is genuinely excellent, so you won’t go hungry. They do a proper Sunday roast, and their local beer selection is solid. The staff actually know the area inside and out, which is invaluable when you’re planning walks or trying to figure out which stone circles are worth the trek. Parking is easy (there’s a decent-sized car park), and while it can get busy with day visitors coming to see the Daphne du Maurier museum, evenings are beautifully quiet. You know what really struck me? The complete darkness at night – no light pollution whatsoever, so if you’re into stargazing, bring a torch for getting around but prepare to be amazed by the sky. Fair warning though: mobile signal can be patchy, and if you’re expecting to work from here, well… maybe embrace the digital detox instead. The 8.9 rating makes sense – it’s not trying to be a luxury spa hotel, but as an atmospheric base for exploring Bodmin Moor and experiencing a slice of Cornwall’s literary history, it absolutely delivers.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $100. Small Double Room with 1 double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $134. Superior Double Room with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $134. Superior Family Room with 1 sofa bed and 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $134. Superior Twin Room with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $161. Deluxe Double Room with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $93. Single Room with 1 single bed for Max persons: 1

Reviews

• Phil from United Kingdom – 22 June 2025 (9/10)

  Atmosphere, staff, location, facilities.
  
  What could be improved: N/A

• Lisa from United Kingdom – 22 June 2025 (9/10)

  The whole atmosphere of the Inn. The location, the staff, the food were great. We loved our room. Just a perfect end to our honeymoon.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing to not like.

• Kent from United Kingdom – 22 June 2025 (9/10)

  Been here before and love both location and the older rooms with proper 4 poster beds etc just adds to the experience of staying in an Inn that has such a great history

• Ralph from United Kingdom – 21 June 2025 (9/10)

  It was a great place to stay
  
  What could be improved: The bar needs more staff

• Bridget from United Kingdom – 20 June 2025 (9/10)

  I had wanted to stay here for a long time and was not disappointed. Our room was wonderful and I loved the little duck who joined me in my bubble bath. The food and staff in the restaurant were lovely and breakfast was smashing. Lovely place and would definitely return.

• James from United Kingdom – 19 June 2025 (9/10)

  Brilliant good location food was very good nothing to report

• Royston from United Kingdom – 18 June 2025 (9/10)

  The Jamaica Inn is one of our favourite places to stay in the UK. Always a very warm welcome from the staff who can’t do enough to make your stay both comfortable and memorable. The property is quite old and it’s filled with charm and history. The rooms are spotless and extremely well maintained and decorated to a high standard. The bar and restaurant areas are bristling with authentic character. Such a gorgeous building and courtyard set in dramatic Cornish countryside.
  
  What could be improved: After numerous visits, we have no complaints whatsoever.

• Rodney from United Kingdom – 17 June 2025 (8/10)

  Clean, well run,
  
  What could be improved: Character lost, a bit Disneyfied !

• Elizabeth from United Kingdom – 17 June 2025 (9/10)

  Easily located off the main road, we also stay on way to st ives. They have a smugglers museum, a gift shop with pirate and ghost stories. They have a little farm shop and a lovely little wooden boat play park for the little ones. The rooms are always so
  Lovely and clean and the staff are always so friendly.
  
  What could be improved: I enjoyed being close to the main road as it's convenient to then continue my journey the next day however some people may not like being near the main road, not near any amenities. The closest shop is the next service station.

• Elspeth from United Kingdom – 17 June 2025 (9/10)

  Helpful and friendly staff,
  
  What could be improved: At dinner they seemed a bit short staffed in the restaurant as it took a long time for our main course to arrive. Also, some items in menu description (my husband's main course), crab and orange salad didn't have any orange!
  At breakfast we requested eggs with the vegetarian breakfast however had to send it back as it arrived without the eggs. It was very tasty though.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities